Auxiliary Crane Ship
Encyclopedia
An Auxiliary Crane Ship is a vessel of the United States
Military Sealift Command
designed to operate where port facilities are limited or damaged to transfer cargo between themselves, other vessels, and piers.
s, equipped with pedestal cranes capable of lifting containers and other cargo. These are used to unload cargo from their own holds as well from other vessels at port facilities which do not have their own cargo handling capability.
These ships give the Military Sealift Command the ability to deliver cargo to locations that would otherwise be inaccessible or difficult to deliver cargo to in a timely manner. This increases the Command's capabilities in responding to needs worldwide, both in locations which are underdeveloped as well as those that have suffered destruction from conflict or natural disaster
s.
The ships retain the ability to carry more than 300 standard containers.
in Bay City, Michigan
, Dillingham Ship Repair in Portland, Oregon
, Norshipco in Norfolk, Virginia
, Tampa Shipyard in Tampa, Florida
, and Keith Ship Repair in New Orleans, Louisiana
.
Within the Military Sealift Command, the ships serve as part of the Ready Reserve Force. Five crane ships were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1990 and 1991, while a single example served as a temporary Army propositioning ship in 1994. Four crane ships were transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet
on 28 July 2006.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Military Sealift Command
Military Sealift Command
The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's...
designed to operate where port facilities are limited or damaged to transfer cargo between themselves, other vessels, and piers.
Description
Auxiliary crane ships are converted commercial container shipContainer ship
Container ships are cargo ships that carry all of their load in truck-size intermodal containers, in a technique called containerization. They form a common means of commercial intermodal freight transport.-History:...
s, equipped with pedestal cranes capable of lifting containers and other cargo. These are used to unload cargo from their own holds as well from other vessels at port facilities which do not have their own cargo handling capability.
These ships give the Military Sealift Command the ability to deliver cargo to locations that would otherwise be inaccessible or difficult to deliver cargo to in a timely manner. This increases the Command's capabilities in responding to needs worldwide, both in locations which are underdeveloped as well as those that have suffered destruction from conflict or natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
s.
The ships retain the ability to carry more than 300 standard containers.
Service
The first crane ship was completed as such in 1984, and a total of 10 vessels were converted through 1997. All were former commercial vessels. Builders which participated in the program were Defoe Shipbuilding CompanyDefoe Shipbuilding Company
The Defoe Shipbuilding Company was a small ship builder established in 1905 in Bay City, Michigan, USA. It ceased to operate in 1976 after failing to renew its contracts with the United States Navy. The site of the former company is now a scrapyard on the bank of the Saginaw River.-Founding:Harry J...
in Bay City, Michigan
Bay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
, Dillingham Ship Repair in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Norshipco in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, Tampa Shipyard in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, and Keith Ship Repair in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
Within the Military Sealift Command, the ships serve as part of the Ready Reserve Force. Five crane ships were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1990 and 1991, while a single example served as a temporary Army propositioning ship in 1994. Four crane ships were transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet
National Defense Reserve Fleet
The National Defense Reserve Fleet consists of "mothballed" ships, mostly merchant vessels, that can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide shipping for the United States of America during national emergencies, either military or non-military, such as commercial shipping crises.The NDRF is...
on 28 July 2006.
Ships in class
- SS Keystone State (T-ACS-1)SS Keystone State (T-ACS-1)SS Keystone State was laid down on 23 January 1965 as the breakbulk ship, SS President Harrison, a Maritime Administration type hull, under Maritime Administration contract at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, CA. She was launched, 10 February 1965 and delivered to the American...
(Military Sealift Command Ready Reserve Force) - SS Gem State (T-ACS-2)SS Gem State (T-ACS-2)SS Gem State was laid down on 30 May 1965, as the breakbulk ship, SS President Monroe, a Maritime Administration type hull, under Maritime Administration contract at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, CA. She was launched on 10 February 1965 and delivered to American President...
(Military Sealift Command Ready Reserve Force) - SS Grand Canyon State (T-ACS-3)SS Grand Canyon State (T-ACS-3)SS Grand Canyon State was laid down on 20 March 1964, as SS President Polk, a Maritime Administration type hull under Maritime Administration contract at National Steel and Shipbuilding, San Diego, CA. She was launched on 23 January 1965 and delivered to the Maritime Administration on 4...
(Military Sealift Command Ready Reserve Force) - SS Gopher State (T-ACS-4)SS Gopher State (T-ACS-4)The SS Gopher State was laid down on 26 July 1971, at Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME. as SS Export Leader, a Maritime Administration type hull under Maritime Administration contract . She was launched on 8 July 1972 and delivered to the Maritime Administration, 22 January 1973...
(Military Sealift Command Ready Reserve Force) - SS Flickertail State (T-ACS-5)SS Flickertail State (T-ACS-5)SS Flickertail State is a crane ship in ready reserve for the United States Navy. She is stationed at Newport News, Virginia and is in ready reserve under the Military Sealift Command. The ship was named for the state of North Dakota, which is also known as the Flickertail State.The ship was...
(Military Sealift Command Ready Reserve Force) - SS Cornhusker State (T-ACS-6)SS Cornhusker State (T-ACS-6)SS Cornhusker State is a crane ship in ready reserve for the United States Navy. She is stationed in Newport News, Virginia and is in ready reserve under the Military Sealift Command. The ship was named for the state of Nebraska, which is also known as the Cornhusker State.The ship was built by...
(Military Sealift Command Ready Reserve Force) - SS Diamond State (T-ACS-7)SS Diamond State (T-ACS-7)SS Diamond State was laid down on 22 November 1960, as the container ship, SS Japan Mail, a Maritime Administration type hull, under Maritime Administration contract at Todd Shipbuilding, Los Angeles, CA. She was launched on August 1961 and delivered to the Maritime Administration, 19 April 1962...
(National Defense Reserve Fleet) - SS Equality State (T-ACS-8)SS Equality State (T-ACS-8)SS Equality State was built 1961 as SS Washington Mail, a Maritime Commission type hull by Todd Shipyard, San Pedro, California. She was launched on 11 May 1961 and delivered to American Mail Lines, 2 January 1962. She was subsequently lengthened and converted to a container ship in 1971 at...
(National Defense Reserve Fleet) - SS Green Mountain State (T-ACS-9)SS Green Mountain State (T-ACS-9)SS Green Mountain State was laid down on 2 December 1963, as the breakbulk ship, SS Mormacaltair, a Maritime Administration type hull, under Maritime Administration contract at Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc., Pascagoula, MS. She was launched, 20 August 1964 and delivered to the Moore-McCormack...
(National Defense Reserve Fleet) - SS Beaver State (T-ACS-10)SS Beaver State (T-ACS-10)SS Beaver State was laid down on 13 April 1964, as the breakbulk ship, SS Mormacdraco, a Maritime Administration type hull, under Maritime Administration contract at Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc., Pascagoula, MS. She was launched on 14 January 1965 and delivered to the Moore-McCormack Lines, 28 May...
(National Defense Reserve Fleet)